The partial collapse of an uninhabited building at 34 Urgell Street on December 4 brought the deterioration of Tàrrega’s historic center back into the spotlight. The incident forced the preventive demolition of four adjacent buildings, accelerating actions that the council already had underway to reverse the situation of abandonment, disinvestment, and lack of residential use.
“"What happened on Urgell Street evidences a problem we were already working on."
The Councillor for Urban Planning, José Luis Marín, noted that the affected properties are part of an urban reordering plan that aims to clear the area and create a new public space connected to Capellans Street. This case reflects the reality of the old town, where fragmented ownership and long periods without use hinder investment, despite over a thousand homes being empty city-wide.
To mobilize empty housing, the City Council has launched an incentive campaign that has successfully encouraged thirteen owners to activate their flats for the municipal affordable rental pool. In parallel, the Old Town Residents Association, supported by the entity Repoblem, is running the “Rehabitem el Casc Antic” campaign, which includes free technical advice from specialized architects.
In addition to repopulation, the council has reinforced revitalization efforts with the empty storefront campaign (comodat contracts), improved lighting, and increased surveillance, including the installation of security cameras in key areas like Sant Antoni Square. The City Council is also preparing a comprehensive project for the historic center aiming to qualify for Pla de Barris aid.
